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As someone with sensitive skin, exfoliator and I have always had an uneasy relationship, especially since my sensitivity is more reactive to touch and abrasive material than the ingredients themselves. I had tried so many exfoliators even the Dermalogica daily microfoliant, which is to be fair much gentler but still meh. Then I discovered chemical exfoliators and hello joy of exfoliation!

Image Ageless Total Facial Cleanser was something I had initially grabbed from my mother’s hoard of products. (I inherited my product piggery from my mother, her skincare stash is impressive!) I hadn’t used a chemical exfoliator before and was initially unsure of the tingly feeling, worried that I was going to be faced with red roaring skin when I looked in the mirror. But I needn’t have worried instead my skin was taut, clear and smooth.

Image Ageless Total Facial Cleanser

Image Ageless Total Facial Cleanser contains 12% Glycolic Acid, which is excellent for exfoliating the skin, without the abrasive scrubbing of traditional mechanical exfoliators. This product is marketed as a 3 in 1 product acting as a cleanser, exfoliator and toner so is a great product for those of you who like a hard working product that does a lot in minimal time. However, as I have sensitive dehydrated skin, this would be too harsh for me to use as my main cleanser morning and evening. I use this primarily as my exfoliator using every second day keeping Image’s Vital C Hydrating Cleanser which I reviewed previously here as my main cleanser.

The key ingredients in this cleanser are Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid Blend and Eucalyptus. To use you apply a small amount of the product on to a damp face and massage well for 60 seconds. This product does tingle when you begin to use it initially. My therapist recommended I started by using this once a week, building up to twice a week and then every second day so that I didn’t overwhelm my skin to begin with.

This is essential as I’ve mentioned previously Image Skincare is a cosmeceutical product line and contains higher percentages of active ingredients than many cosmetic brands. It can therefore only be sold by licensed professionals which is important as they will guide you in what products are right for your skin and how best to use them. Someone with more congested or oily skin for example would be fine to use this every day, so it’s important to know what is right for you.

This product is fantastic for those with combo oily skin or those who wish to address pigmentation to use as a daily product, or for those like myself who wish to use as a chemical exfoliator for dehydrated sensitive skin. This will set you back about €30 for a 177.6ml bottle. I have been using this every second day and am still on the same bottle I got at the start of January. If you have oily skin and are using this daily morning and evening you could expect it to last at least six months. So it does offer good value for money. All in all I absolutely love this product and my skin has seen fantastic benefits since switching from mechanical exfoliators.

What are your exfoliators of choice this winter?

Thanks for reading!

Blathin x

About Image Skincare

“Image Skincare products are developed and formulated by internationally recognized chemists working together with a board of physicians. All Image Skincare products are manufactured in the USA and are unparalleled in their quality in today’s marketplace. Our philosophy is to use superior ingredients to achieve outstanding results. Image Skincare is dedicated to offering safe products without the use of chemical preservatives like parabens. The use of parabens as preservatives in cosmetics is controversial. There are clinical studies suggesting that parabens have potential health risks, including estrogen activity. Image Skincare is one of the first skincare companies that started to remove parabens from its product line beginning in early 2007.

All of the lines of Image Skincare are paraben free.Products not tested on animalsNo petrochemicalsNo chemical preservativesFragrance composed with 100% essential oilsRespect of the environmentNo parabens

We all know the mantra, cleanse tone and moisturise! But I must admit I just never bothered with the toner section, that is until my recent purchase of White Tea Facial Mist by Neal’s Yard Remedies.

Once part of the trinity of skincare, toner has become the somewhat forgotten addition in recent years. There is much disagreement out there as to whether it is needed at all. Some claim it’s no longer necessary. In the past cleansers tended to leave heavy residues and toner was an essential next step to remove this before moisturising. However changing formulas means that this is no longer a problem so many people no longer bother with toner.

The toner that converted me!

Of course some people still see toners as an important part of skincare as they can remove excess oils, so are a worthy addition for those with oily skin or acne. I have dehydrated, sensitive skin so I’ve just never felt the need to add toner, especially since the number of products in my regime is reaching ridiculous proportions. However there is a reason they reached these levels and being the product junkie I am of course when the opportunity to test the waters came, I gave in without much of a fight.

At the recent Pro Beauty show in the RDS I wandered over to Neal’s Yard Remedies stand with the intention of picking up the Wild Rose Beauty Balm but much to my disappointment this was already sold out and the White Tea Facial Mist found its way into my hands instead.

Described as a gentle facial mist which can be spritzed for a hydrating boost, or used after cleansing as a toner, this works to calm, refresh and rehydrate the skin. It is infused with antioxidant white tea, calming organic aloe vera, aromatherapeutic organic essential oils and soothing Bach Flower Remedies. It is also 92% organic, paraben free and vegan friendly.

Perfect to hydrate and boost dehydrated and sensitive skin with anti-oxidants I decided this would be just the product to pop my toner cherry, and it didn’t disappoint! I found this hydrating, soothing and refreshing and my skin has been noticeably smoother and more hydrated since adding this to my routine which is always a good thing.

I love the Neal’s Yard vintage style blue glass bottles; they look so pretty and dainty. I really love packaging that looks nice enough to leave out on your dresser. You can pick up 45ml of this for a very reasonable €14.50 through the NYR Organic website here or use it to locate a local consultant to buy products.

This very successful foray into the world of toners has made me curious to sample more and I’ve heard rave reviews about Pixie Glow tonic so that may be next on the list. Do you use toner as part of your routine and what others should I try?

With the arrival of the cold weather, we need to start up-ing our skincare game, but with the C word approaching there is also presents and lots of saving to be done, so money is tighter. Below are my top 5 skincare saviours that can really give some extra love to your skin and even better won’t break the bank. So you can concentrate on saving your money for bills, presents and maybe a sneaky make up purchase from one of the many lovely AW collections!

My 5 Skincare Saviours!

Flannels

Flannels are an inexpensive addition to your skincare routine, you can get a pack of four from Penny’s (Primark) to those of you outside of Ireland) for a couple of euro but they are an extremely hardworking worthy item. Flannel’s can retain heat better and so are extremely effective for cleansing and removing make-up. You can throw them in the wash too, so use a fresh one every day, especially if you are prone to break outs. Flannels also act as a natural exfoliator when washing your face so help to get a more even complexion and tackle dull skin.

Fish Oils

Fish Oils used to remind me of the thing your mother used to try and force feed you on a spoon and how it was VILE! Thankfully there is a whole range of fish oils now that are less gag inducing and you can take them in capsule form too. Taken every day (with food) they can help regulate oil production in your skin to boost hydration, prevent acne and reduce skin inflammation; they also have anti-ageing benefits to stave off those wrinkles. I personally love the Eskimo Fish Oils but there are so many to choose from you can find one to suit you and your budget.

Coconut Oil

Oh coconut how I love thee! This is one of my most loved products EVER! I have yet to meet a food, product, smell, or anything in fact with a coconut in it that I didn’t like. If it contains coconut sign me up… Ahem anyway I digress back to why this turns me into a rambling mess. Coconut oil (specifically extra virgin coconut oil) is cheap as chips and it does EVERYTHING. Seriously it’s so multifunctional and it works. It’s a fantastic way to keep your skin and hair soft, healthy and supple. You can use it as a hair mask, lip balm, cleanser, moisturiser, body moisturiser, on your cuticles or slather it all over your face and leave on for thirty minutes like a mask. You can even cook with it. You can find this in in any health food store, but my coconut oil of choice can be found in Dunnes for just under €5 and is on par with some of the more expensive versions found in the likes of Holland and Barrett.

Hot Water and Lemon

Lemons are a fantastic addition to any beauty regimen. Lemons are a great source of calcium, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium – minerals and antioxidants that improve the appearance and condition of our hair, skin and nails. Squeezing some lemon into some warm water every morning has some fantastic skin benefits. The levels of Vitamin C helps to decrease wrinkles, it also acts as a detox for both our skin and body helping to keep your skin clear and tackle any bloating as an added benefit! It can also help to detox the liver and is a top tip for tackling dark circles under your eyes.

Dark Chocolate

Yes chocolate!! However these benefits only apply to dark chocolate that is at least 70% or over unfortunately so we can’t have all of the chocolate in aid of beauty. Sigh! But back to the dark stuff, researchers have found that it is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that nourish the skin. Flavonoids found in dark chocolate absorb UV light, acting as a natural SPF for your skin, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improve skin’s hydration and complexion. Additionally dark chocolate has been found to reduce stress hormones thus helping prevent collagen break down and fighting fine lines and wrinkles.

So do you think you’ll be adding any of these to your routine and what are your top beauty saviours?

Cleansers are one of the most important steps in your skincare regime but while they do an important job, they can be a bit well boring compared to the more exciting results often seen by serums, masks and night creams.

So I thought that is, until Image Vital C Hydrating Cleanser came into my life. Having used some of my mother’s cleanser one evening when I had run out of mine I was immediately hooked! I have extreme love for this product to the extent that now when I use other cleansers I kind of feel like I’m cheating on my own…. I know I know! but honestly it’s just that good! Unlike so many other cleansers that just you know, take off your make up and well cleanse your face, yes fine but just functional. This was the first cleanser I ever used that actually felt loaded with benefits for my skin.

My holy grail cleanser – Image Vital C Hydrating Cleanser

Not only does it cleanse your face beautifully, removing make up and the days grime but it’s so creamy and hydrating that your skin actually feels moisturised after using before you’ve even followed up with your other products. And after using this cleanser I found my skin was more hydrated and had a definite glow to it without changing anything else in my regime.

So what makes this cleanser so good? Well it boasts an impressive 20% Vitamin A, C and E for a start which are the like the holy grail of anti-ageing skincare ingredients. As Image Skincare is a cosmeceutical product line it also contains higher percentages of active ingredients than many cosmetic brands and can therefore only be sold by licensed professionals.

You might think this would make it more expensive but Image skincare is very competitively priced this cleanser will set you back about €30 for a 177.6ml bottle. Using this twice a day and double cleansing when wearing make-up this lasted me a good six months so it really does go a long way for your money.

According to Image this cleanser is ideal for dehydrated, sensitive skin types as well as those exposed to pollution, smoking and all skin types looking for more hydration. I would agree with this, my sensitive, dehydrated skin LOVED this cleanser but equally its ingredient content and hydrating formula means anyone who is looking for a cleanser with some serious anti-ageing benefits added in will get on with this.

About Image Skincare

“Image Skincare products are developed and formulated by internationally recognized chemists working together with a board of physicians. All Image Skincare products are manufactured in the USA and are unparalleled in their quality in today’s marketplace. Our philosophy is to use superior ingredients to achieve outstanding results. Image Skincare is dedicated to offering safe products without the use of chemical preservatives like parabens. The use of parabens as preservatives in cosmetics is controversial. There are clinical studies suggesting that parabens have potential health risks, including estrogen activity. Image Skincare is one of the first skincare companies that started to remove parabens from its product line beginning in early 2007.